Respected coach Kevin Burton has been tasked with leading Inglewood United’s Under-20s into the new season. Burton will oversee the development of the next generation of Inglewood players, calling the shots from the dugout with assistant Michael Baczynski and working in tandem with Michael Garcia and Richie Abrams.
“I am really looking forward to working with the coaching team,” Burton said. “Michael Garcia, Taki Nicolaidis and Saul Contera have some great experience and knowledge and I know Richie Abrams and Dan Stoitis will develop the Under-18 players to a high standard. I hope to be able to both impart my own knowledge and learn from others within the team.”
Burton’s focus in 2016 will be on preparing his players for first team duty. “I’m here to make sure the Under-20 players are ready, willing and able to step up to the first team when Michael Garcia asks,” said the 54-year old. “There is also an element of giving first team squad players valuable game time.”
“It’s clearly a role in which transparent communication and flexibility is required between coaches and players in alignment with Michael’s ‘one team’ philosophy. I’m looking to create a positive, enthusiastic and challenging playing environment for the 20s and if we are successful in achieving this, then results will look after themselves.”
Burton is best known in local circles for transforming University of Western Australia. In the space of a few short years he took the then amateur club from Division One to four consecutive top three Premier League placing. A second spell reaped even greater rewards with UWA-Nedlands crowned State League Division Two champions and Burton recognised as Coach of the Year.
London-born Burton played for Welsh League side Swansea University, winning the British Universities Intermediate Cup in 1981, Old Fairlopians and Bishop Stortford Swifts before moving to Western Australia. Additional to UWA, he coached at Balcatta and Curtin University and spent time as a youth team coach with Port Darwin and the Northern Territory Academy.
